english stories-london-第25章

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to　the　very　steps　of　the　altar；　knelt　down；　hiding　her　face　with　her

clasped　hands。　The　tired　wayfarer's　attention　was　attracted　by　this；

she　gazed　with　a　sort　of　dull　wonder　at　the　kneeling　figure　robed　in

rich　rustling　silk　and　crape；　and　gradually　her　eyes　wandered　upward；

upward；　till　they　rested　on　the　gravely　sweet　and　serenely　smiling

marble　image　of　the　Virgin　and　Child。　She　looked　and　looked　again

surprisedincredulous；　then　suddenly　rose　to　her　feet　and　made　her

way　to　the　altar　railing。　There　she　paused；　staring　vaguely　at　a

basket　of　flowers；　white　and　odorous；　that　had　been　left　there　by　some

reverent　worshipper。　She　glanced　doubtfully　at　the　swinging　silver

lamps；　the　twinkling　candles；　she　was　conscious；　too；　of　a　subtle；

strange　fragrance　in　the　air；　as　though　a　basket　full　of　spring

violets　and　daffodils　had　just　been　carried　by；　then；　as　her　wandering

gaze　came　back　to　the　solitary　woman　in　black；　who　still　knelt

motionless　near　her；　a　sort　of　choking　sensation　came　into　her　throat

and　a　stinging　moisture　struggled　in　her　eyes。　She　strove　to　turn　this

hysterical　sensation　to　a　low　laugh　of　disdain。



〃Lord；　Lord！〃　she　muttered　beneath　her　breath；　〃what　sort　of　place　is

this；　where　they　pray　to　a　woman　and　a　baby？〃



At　that　moment　the　woman　in　black　rose；　she　was　young；　with　a　proud；

fair；　but　weary　face。　Her　eyes　lighted　on　her　soiled　and　poverty…

stricken　sister；　and　she　paused　with　a　pitying　look。　The　street

wanderer　made　use　of　the　opportunity　thus　offered；　and　in　an　urgent

whisper　implored　charity。　The　lady　drew　out　a　purse；　then　hesitated；

looking　wistfully　at　the　bundle　in　the　shawl。



〃You　have　a　child　there？〃　she　asked；　in　gentle　accents。　〃May　I　see

it？〃



〃Yes；　lady；〃　and　the　wrapper　was　turned　down　sufficiently　to　disclose

the　tiny　white　face；　now　more　infinitely　touching　than　ever　in　the

pathos　of　sleep。



〃I　lost　my　little　one　a　week　ago；〃　said　the　lady；　simply；　as　she

looked　at　it。　〃He　was　all　I　had。〃　Her　voice　trembled；　she　opened　her

purse；　and　placed　a　half…crown　in　the　hand　of　her　astonished

supplicant。　〃You　are　happier　than　I　am；　perhaps　you　will　pray　for　me。

I　am　very　lonely！〃



Then　dropping　her　long　crape　veil　so　that　it　completely　hid　her

features；　she　bent　her　head　and　moved　softly　away。　The　woman　watched

her　till　her　graceful　figure　was　completely　lost　in　the　gloom　of　the

great　church；　and　then　turned　again　vaguely　to　the　altar。



〃Pray　for　her！〃　she　thought。　〃I！　As　if　I　could　pray！〃　And　she　smiled

bitterly。　Again　she　looked　at　the　statue　in　the　shrine；　it　had　no

meaning　at　all　for　her。　She　had　never　heard　of　Christianity　save

through　the　medium　of　a　tract；　whose　consoling　title　had　been　〃Stop！

You　are　Going　to　Hell！〃　Religion　of　every　sort　was　mocked　at　by　those

among　whom　her　lot　was　cast；　the　name　of　Christ　was　only　used　as　a

convenience　to　swear　by；　and　therefore　this　mysterious；　smiling；

gently　inviting　marble　figure　was　incomprehensible　to　her　mind。



〃As　if　I　could　pray！〃　she　repeated；　with　a　sort　of　derision。　Then　she

looked　at　the　broad　silver　coin　in　her　hand　and　the　sleeping　baby　in

her　arms。　With　a　sudden　impulse　she　dropped　on　her　knees。



〃Whoever　you　are；〃　she　muttered；　addressing　the　statue　above　her；　〃it

seems　you've　got　a　child　of　your　own；　perhaps　you'll　help　me　to　take

care　of　this　one。　It　isn't　mine；　I　wish　it　was！　Anyway；　I　love　it　more

than　its　own　mother　does。　I　dare　say　you　won't　listen　to　the　likes　of

me；　but　if　there　was　God　anywhere　about　I'd　ask　Him　to　bless　that　good

soul　that's　lost　her　baby。　I　bless　her　with　all　my　heart；　but　my

blessing　ain't　good　for　much。　Ah！〃　and　she　surveyed　anew　the　Virgin's

serene　white　countenance；　〃you　just　look　as　if　you　understood　me；　but

I　don't　believe　you　do。　Never　mind；　I've　said　all　I　wanted　to　say　this

time。〃



Her　strange　petition；　or　rather　discourse；　concluded；　she　rose　and

walked　away。　The　great　doors　of　the　church　swung　heavily　behind　her　as

she　stepped　out　and　stood　once　more　in　the　muddy　street。　It　was

raining　steadilya　fine；　cold；　penetrating　rain。　But　the　coin　she

held　was　a　talisman　against　outer　discomforts；　and　she　continued　to

walk　on　till　she　came　to　a　clean…looking　dairy；　where　for　a　couple　of

pence　she　was　able　to　replenish　the　infant's　long　ago　emptied　feeding

bottle；　but　she　purchased　nothing　for　herself。　She　had　starved　all

day；　and　was　now　too　faint　to　eat。　Soon　she　entered　an　omnibus；　and

was　driven　to　Charing　Cross；　and　alighting　at　the　great　station；

brilliant　with　its　electric　light；　she　paced　up　and　down　outside　it；

accosting　several　of　the　passers…by　and　imploring　their　pity。　One　man

gave　her　a　penny；　another；　young　and　handsome；　with　a　flushed；

intemperate　face；　and　a　look　of　his　fast…fading　boyhood　still　about

him；　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　and　drew　out　all　the　loose　coppers　it

contained；　amounting　to　three　pennies　and　an　odd　farthing；　and；

dropping　them　into　her　outstretched　palm；　said；　half　gaily；　half

boldly：　〃You　ought　to　do　better　than　that　with　those　big　eyes　of

yours！〃　She　drew　back　and　shuddered；　he　broke　into　a　coarse　laugh；　and

went　his　way。　Standing　where　he　had　left　her；　she　seemed　for　a　time

lost　in　wretched　reflections；　the　fretful；　wailing　cry　of　the　child

she　carried　roused　her；　and　hushing　it　softly；　she　murmured；　〃Yes；

yes；　darling；　it　is　too　wet　and　cold　for　you；　we　had　better　go。〃　And

acting　suddenly　on　her　resolve；　she　hailed　another　omnibus；　this　time

bound　for　Tottenham　Court　Road；　and　was；　after　some　dreary　jolting；

set　down　at　her　final　destinationa　dirty　alley　in　the　worst　part　of

Seven　Dials。　Entering　it；　she　was　hailed　with　a　shout　of　derisive

laughter　from　some　rough…looking　men　and　women；　who　were　standing

grouped　round　a　low　gin…shop　at　the　corner。



〃Here's　Liz！〃　cried　one。　〃Here's　Liz　and　the　bloomin'　kid！〃



〃Now；　old　gel；　fork　out！　How　much　'ave　you　got；　Liz？　Treat　us　to　a

drop　all　round！〃



Liz　waked　past　them　steadily；　the　conspicuous　curve　of　her　upper　lip

came　into　full　play；　and　her　eyes　flashed　disdainfully；　but　she　said

nothing。　Her　silence　exasperated　a　tangle…haired；　cat…faced　girl　of

seventeen　years；　who；　more　than　half　drunk；　sat　on　the　ground；

clasping　her　knees　with　both　arms　and　rocking　herself　lazily　to　and

fro。



〃Mother　Mawks！〃　cried　she；　〃Mother　Mawks！　You're　wanted！　Here's　Liz

come　back　with　your　babby！〃



As　if　her　words　had　been　a　powerful　incantation　to　summon　forth　an

evil　spirit；　a　door　in　one　of　the　miserable　houses　was　thrown　open；

and　a　stout　woman；　nearly　naked　to　the　waist；　with　a　swollen；

blotched；　and　most　hideous　countenance；　rushed　out　furiously；　and

darting　at　Liz；　shook　her　violently　by　the　arm。



〃Where's　my　shullin'？〃　she　yelled；　〃where's　my　gin？　Out　with　it！　Out

with　my　shullin'　an'　fourpence！　None　of　yer　sneakin'　ways　with　me；　a

bargain's　a　bargain　all　the　world　over！　Yer're　making　a　fortin'　with

my　babbyyer　know　y'　are；　pays　yer　a　good　deal　better　than　yer　old

trade！　Don't　say　it　don'tyer　know　it　do。　Yer'll　not　find　such　a

sickly　kid　anywheres；　an'　it's　the　sickly　kids　wot　pays　an'　moves　the

'arts　of　the　kyind　ladies　an'　good　gentlemen〃this　with　an　imitative

whine　that　excited　the　laughter　and　applause　of　her　hearers。　〃Yer've

got　it　cheap；　I　kin　tell　yer；　an'　if　yer　don't　pay　up　reg'lar；　there's

others　that'll　take　the　chance；　an'　thankful　too！〃



She　stopped　for　lack　of　breath；　and　Liz　spoke　quietly：



〃It's　all　right；　Mother　Mawks；〃　she　said；　with　an　attempt　at　a　smile；

〃here's　your　shilling；　here's　the　four　pennies　for　the　gin。　I　don't

owe　you　anything　for　the　child　now。〃　She　stopped　and　hesitated；

looking　down　tenderly　at　the　frail　creature　in　her　arms；　then　added；

almost　pleadingly；　〃It's　asleep　now。　May　I　take　it　with　me　to…night？〃



Mother　Mawks；　who　had　been　testing　the　coins　Liz　had　given　her　by

biting　them　ferociously　with　her　large　yellow　teeth；　broke　into　a　loud

laugh。



〃Take　it　with　yer！　I　like　that！　Wot　im